Citation 67 Royal assent 30th October 1985 | Introduced by Nicholas Ridley MP Commencement 26 October 1986 | |
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Long title An Act to amend the law relating to road passenger transport; to make provision for the transfer of the operations of the National Bus Company to the private sector; to provide for the reorganisation of passenger transport in the public sector; to provide for local and central government financial support for certain passenger transport services and travel concessions; to make further provision with respect to the powers of London Regional Transport; to make new provision with respect to the constitution, powers and proceedings of the Transport Tribunal; to make provision with respect to grants payable under section 92 of the Finance Act 1965; to establish a Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee; and for connected purposes. Territorial extent England, Wales & Scotland | ||
The Transport Act 1985 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom. It introduced privatised and deregulated bus services throughout Great Britain. It was introduced by the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher.
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Privatisation and bus deregulation came into effect on 26 October 1986. Local authorities were required to transfer their municipally-owned bus services to separate companies, at arm's length from council control. Most of these companies have since been privatised, with the notable exception of Lothian Buses in Edinburgh; a few other municipal bus companies remain today. Deregulation was not applied to bus services in Greater London; instead, the Act brought about a system of franchised routes operated by private companies but managed by London Buses Ltd.